Does any camera auto-level?

30% of my PP seems to be wasted with crop-n-level. Well, it feels that way anyway. It just seems like "isn't this the kind of thing computers are for"? Even 5% off bugs me unless I'm intending the tilt so at a high percentage of my shots need some kind of leveling. Ugg.

How hard would it be for them to install an electronic internal level and feed that into the RAW file?

Anyone know if a brand/model has this? Maybe this is one of those features a smartphone or P&S will get first. Hopefully its just my ignorance and its already there for the taking.

I don't know about all mirrorless EVFs, but my fuji X-E1 has a level feature for the EVF.

It'd be cheaper, quicker and easier if you got the camera level before taking the shot. Some models have an electronic level. If your camera doesn't, you can get a bubble level for the hot shoe for a few bucks. Lightroom can try to auto align the image within the crop tool.

I tend to tilt the camera so that the right side is lower than the left. It actually is good for me as it forces me to pay a bit more attention before I take the shot. Got lemons, make lemonade

Just buy a tank...

http://petapixel.com …astic-camera-stabilizers/

DGStinner wrote in post #17792615
It'd be cheaper, quicker and easier if you got the camera level before taking the shot. Some models have an electronic level. If your camera doesn't, you can get a bubble level for the hot shoe for a few bucks. Lightroom can try to auto align the image within the crop tool.

How would it be quicker-n-easier than just having it done for me?

Lightroom has an auto-align? I'm on version 5. It's enough wasted time that it would be worth the $80 upgrade if it really works (for my set-up - Canon 5Dii).

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #17792622
Just buy a tank...

http://petapixel.com …astic-camera-stabilizers/

Nice. And it delivers beer without spilling a drop.

Heya,

Most cameras these days have the option to display grid lines. I use this feature all the time in Live View when I'm doing landscape in general. I rarely have to crop horizon when doing this. The only time I'm cropping horizon is when I'm laying on the ground, free-hand shooting at weird angles and positions. From a tripod? Never have to crop if you take 2 seconds and use the grid.

Very best,

NBEast wrote in post #17792627
How would it be quicker-n-easier than just having it done for me?

Adding that functionality to a camera, if even possible, takes time and skill. Also, having to click extra buttons in Lightroom takes slightly more time than if you get the camera level before taking the photo.

NBEast wrote in post #17792627
Lightroom has an auto-align? I'm on version 5. It's enough wasted time that it would be worth the $80 upgrade if it really works (for my set-up - Canon 5Dii).

Under the Crop tool, there should be an Auto button. Also, under Lens Corrections, there are buttons for auto, level, and vertical.

Maybe an illustration is better. I have differing vertical and horizontal lines. On the original, it's obviously tilted left. However, do I trust the goal post vertical, fence-post vertical, or just judge it.

To the brain, I think that as long as some solid looking vertical is straight and gravity seems to be working, then it won't look "off".

However, an in-camera electronic reading in the RAW file would settle it - not to mention saving me the effort on all 250 photos from the day!

Even using a leveled tripod, there's the mobility issue. I'd like to follow the action more then my tripod allows. So; we're back to "why doesn't Canon do their job and utilize available technology to make my life easier"?

EDIT: Or do they ... and I'm just ignorant of it.


1. Original, slightly tilted: EDIT: This is the original *tilt*. Both are cropped.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …/i-cK8dmK7-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …/i-8NsSgGf-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A

NBEast wrote in post #17792662
So; we're back to "why doesn't Canon do their job and utilize available technology to make my life easier"?

You have to remember that camera sensors are rectangular and not round so even if the technology was available, which I'm sure it isn't, it would still result in part of the image being cropped off after leveling. Use the grid lines in the camera if you want to ensure the camera is level while handholding. Making sure the horizon is level is more important than verticals since they can get skewed by the angle of the camera.

It seems to me that you're asking the camera to apply some intelligence to the shot you're taking. In this case cropping the image for you, since that is the only way to adjust level without you changing the angle the camera is at.
For me, I would rather do that crop in PP. I don't normally like the decisions the equipment or software makes for me, including exposure.

I think that is more lens distortion than anything. Neither the original or the corrected one are bad enough to bug me whatsoever.

I still can't figure out how the tilt corrected image has more of the tree in the background than the original. I would've expected it the other way around.

DGStinner wrote in post #17792691
I still can't figure out how the tilt corrected image has more of the tree in the background than the original. I would've expected it the other way around.

Both are cropped but I had to squeeze the crop in to get the thicker edge-line to line up to the goal post's edge, then re-size it. The gridlines are too thin. I didn't get it back to it's original size. Sorry.

By "original", I meant "original tilt". The corrected one is lined up to the vertical goal post.

I'll edit it "original tilt". Thanks.